dojR001550.xml

dojR001550.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-03-17

Sunday, March 17, 2002 8:45 PM
September 11 Victim Compensation Fund

FOR THE MEMORY OF:






And so many more...

I am writing to express my outrage and to protest the blatant
discrimination against gay Americans which appears to be fundamental to
the implementation of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

In an appearance on the Sunday, March 10 broadcast of NBC's "Meet the
Press," Kenneth Feinberg, the head of the September 11th Victim
Compensation Fund (a fund created by Congress and run by the Department
of Justice), said that gay partners of the heroes of September 11th will
not necessarily be eligible for the same compensation as heterosexual
family members who lost their loved ones.

At the same time, in reading the details of the fund, I find that even
illegal aliens will be receiving benefits under this fund. but "not
necessarily" gay-Americans? Apparently, there's even a promise to
overlook federal law and NOT arrest and kick out the families of illegal
aliens, nor will American companies be punished for hiring illegals in
violation of federal labor laws.

At the same time, the law is being cited as the justification for
discriminating against the loving partners and loved ones of the gay
Americans and gay American heroes who died in the tragedy. How
hypocritical and unjust! This is hardly the America I spent 20 years of
my life defending as a proud member of the United States Navy.

I call upon the administrators of the fund to implement in a way that is
fair to all of the victims, not just some of them. I applaud the
decision to waive law in the case of illegal aliens, but we should also
waive the discriminatory laws that would prevent Americans, albeit gay
Americans, from receiving the same benefits.

Regards,

Individual Comment

2002-03-17